The Leonard Cohen Version

I visited Iggy in the studio. Somebody showed us a clipping with a personal ad, a young woman looking for ‘a man with the mind of Leonard Cohen and the body of Iggy Pop.’ We wrote a polite letter suggesting we meet sometime, both signed it and placed my telephone number under it. The girl answered. Unfortunately, her only interest was in leading profound conversations.1

The Iggy Pop Version

Years ago, some girl wrote in the classifieds saying she was looking for a man ‘with the poetic sensitivity of Leonard Cohen and the raw power of Iggy Pop,’ so Leonard tried to get me to set up a three-way with her [laughs]. He said, ‘Dude, we can give her both!’2

The Sylvie Simmons Account

Note: The following was originally entered as a comment by Sylvie, but it’s too good to be relegated to the Comments.

Here’s what they both said in a little book called ‘I’m Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen’:

Iggy was in Los Angeles, recording an album, when one night Leonard phoned. “Leonard said, ‘Come over, I’ve got a personal ad from a girl who says she wants a lover who will combine the raw energy of Iggy Pop with the elegant wit of Leonard Cohen. I think we should reply to her as a team.’ ” Iggy said, “Leonard, I can’t, I’m married, you’re going to have to do this yourself.’ I guess he did,” says Iggy. “I don’t know if he got laid.”

Syvie: Iggy Pop was curious as to the outcome of a reply you sent a woman seeking love through a personal ad.

Leonard: “[Smiles] As I remember it, I bumped into Iggy at a session being produced by Don Was, a friend of mine, and I showed him the clipping that someone had sent me from a San Francisco newspaper. We decided to reply, and to certify its authenticity, Don took a Polaroid of Iggy and myself sitting together in my kitchen. We spoke to the young woman—at least I spoke to her—on the telephone. But there was no personal involvement.”

Credit Due Department: The ad, the letter, and the photo of Leonard & Iggy are from The Island. Thanks to Milan Zivancevic, who alerted me to this material.

I am republishing selected posts from my former Leonard Cohen site, Cohencentric, here on AllanShowalter.com (these posts can be found at Leonard Cohen). The first version of this entry was posted Aug 2, 2008 at DrHGuy.com. Additional information has been added as it became available.